Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild: Three things we learned

The Colorado Avalanche and the Minnesota Wild faced off the night after Valentine’s day for an affair that was anything but rosy. The Colorado Avalanche won the fixture 3-2, with Kirill Kaprizov netting a late goal for the Wild to make it close.

Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek landed on the scoresheet for the Wild. Andrew Cogliano, Denis Malgin and Nathan MacKinnon all scored goals for the Avalanche.

Here are three things learned from the Colorado Avalanche’s big win over the Wild

#3 The Wild losing streak continues

It’s been a rough month for the team from Minnesota. The Wild have now lost five out of their last six games. Their last win in regulation came all the way back on January 17, 2023 against the Washington Capitals. The Wild have only won in shootouts since then.

The Minnesota team's inefficiency in scoring goals is becoming a major problem. The only time the Wild have scored more than two goals in regulation since the game against the Capitals is when Kirill Kaprizov scores, and only one other forward. The Wild need help in the goals department, and fast.

#2 Alexandar Georgiev is red hot

The new Colorado goalie is on a tear, and it showed tonight. Pair that with the Wild’s scoring woes and you have a recipe for a good goalie showing. Georgiev saved 41 shots of 43 to put the Wild to rest. The Colorado Avalanche goalie was under an onslaught of shots compared to the other end of the ice, but ended up winning just the same.

In his past five games, Georgiev has posted a .914 save percentage or better in four of them. The two stand-out games were against the Panthers and Wild in two of the Avalanche's last three wins.

#1 Nathan MacKinnon keeps finding a way to get on the scoreboard

Big Mac just keeps finding a way to get it done. Once again, the Colorado Avalanche’s best star finds a way to separate himself from the rest. With under four minutes left in the second period, Nathan MacKinnon put the game to bed by sneaking the puck past the right pad of Fleury.

MacKinnon has been huge for the Avalanche since the All-Star Break. In the past five games, Nathan MacKinnon has eight points. Six of those points are goals. It’s safe to say that if the Colorado Avalanche get back in contention to defend their title, Nathan MacKinnon is going to be the biggest reason why.